Imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. An outermost lens group and a lens group actuator are movable along an optical axis. In the inactive position the lens group and the lens group actuator reside close to an image sensor. The lens group actuator is positioned to the same level as the image sensor. In the active position the outermost lens group and the lens group actuator are further from the image sensor along the optical axis. The retractable structure may protrude from the device, covering the imaging apparatus. In one example the structure is reversed, the image sensor protrudes from the device while the outermost lens group is fixed to the device body.

BACKGROUND

Digital cameras usually comprise a lens and a sensor for capturing animage by capturing light and converting it into electrical signals.Mobile electronic devices such as smart phones are usually equipped withan imaging apparatus, for example, a camera. The imaging quality of themobile electronic devices may be improved by optical image stabilizationor autofocus. A current trend in designing mobile electronic devicesaims for thin devices, wherein the form factor benefits from thinimaging apparatus to be housed inside the mobile electronic device.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active andinactive positions. An outermost lens group and a lens group actuatorare movable along an optical axis. Examples of a lens group actuator arean autofocus actuator or an optical image stabilizer. In the inactiveposition the lens group and the lens group actuator reside close to animage sensor. The lens group actuator is positioned at the same level asthe image sensor. In one example the actuator has a circular shape andthe image sensor fits inside the actuator perimeter.

In the active position the outermost lens group and the lens groupactuator are further from the image sensor along the optical axis. Theretractable structure may protrude from the device housing the imagingapparatus. In one example the outermost lens group and the lens groupactuator protrude from the device. In one example the structure isreversed, the image sensor protrudes from the device while the outermostlens group is fixed to the device body. The structure allows imagingapparatuses with better optical characteristics to be implemented forexample in very thin devices. Devices with various form factors maybenefit from smaller imaging apparatus as there is more room toimplement other features to the device.

Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as theybecome better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. Theembodiments described below are not limited to implementations whichsolve any or all of the disadvantages of known imaging apparatusesintegrated in hand-held devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description will be better understood from the followingdetailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 a shows one embodiment of an electronic device incorporating twoimaging apparatuses;

FIG. 1 b shows the rear side of the embodiment with the imagingapparatus in an active position;

FIG. 2 a shows one embodiment of an electronic device incorporating oneimaging apparatus;

FIG. 2 b shows the rear side of the embodiment with the imagingapparatus in an active position;

FIG. 3 a is a simplified cross-sectional view of one embodiment of animaging apparatus in an active position;

FIG. 3 b is a simplified cross-sectional view of the embodiment in aninactive position;

FIG. 4 a is a simplified cross-sectional view of one embodiment of animaging apparatus in an active position having a movable image sensor;

FIG. 4 b is a simplified cross-sectional view of the embodiment in aninactive position; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified cross-sectional view of one embodiment of animaging apparatus having a curved image sensor.

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in theaccompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of the present embodiments and isnot intended to represent the only forms in which the presentembodiments may be constructed or utilized. However, the same orequivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments.

Although the present embodiments are described and illustrated herein asbeing implemented in a smartphone, the device described is provided asan example and not a limitation. As those skilled in the art willappreciate, the present embodiments are suitable for application in avariety of different types of mobile and/or hand-held apparatuses, e.g.in tablets, laptops, digital cameras or gaming consoles.

FIG. 1 a shows a front side of one example of an electronic deviceincorporating an imaging apparatus, wherein one embodiment of theelectronic device is a smartphone. The electronic device comprises abody 100 comprising a display 110, a speaker 120, a microphone 130 andkeys 140. The electronic device comprises an imaging apparatus 150, acamera on one surface. The electronic device may comprise two or morecameras, for example a front camera 150 on the front surface and anotherimaging apparatus, a rear camera 160 on the rear side. FIG. 1 b showsthe rear side of the electronic device, wherein the rear camera 160resides on a retractable element 161. In one example the retractableelement provides a protective casing for at least one lens actuator anda first lens group. The retractable element 161 is shown in an activeposition, wherein at least one lens and at least one actuator are movedapart from the image sensor group along an optical axis. The opticalaxis is a line along which there is some degree of rotational symmetryin an optical system. The optical axis is an imaginary line that definesa path along which light propagates through the system. In an inactiveposition the retractable element 161 may be flush with the rear surface.According to an embodiment, a transparent front surface 101 made ofglass covers the display and the lens of the front camera 150. The rearsurface 102 is opaque and is, for example, made of plastic or metal.Having a retractable element protruding from a glass surface may requireadditional edges and sharp corners to be manufactured to the glasssurface, therefore implementing the retractable element on a surfacemade of plastic or metal may be more economical.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate a device 200 having a movable sensor groupinside the retractable element 210, according to an embodiment. Theretractable element 210 protrudes from the rear surface 220. The frontsurface 230 is covered with transparent material such as glass. Animaging device 240, for example a camera, has an optical field of vision241 through the flush front surface 230. The retractable element 210protrudes from the rear surface 220 in the active position, providingadditional distance between the sensor group and the first lens group.In an embodiment a portion of the transparent front surface 230 iscomprised in the first lens group. As illustrated in the previousexamples, the travel of the retractable element may be few millimetersto allow the active position.

FIG. 3 a is a simplified cross-sectional view of the imaging apparatusimplemented in the electronic device in the active position. A firstlens group 320 is positioned on the optical axis 301, wherein the firstlens group 320 comprises the lens through which the light travels to theimage sensor group 350. The first lens group 320 may comprise only onelens or it may be a combination of several lenses. In an embodiment, awindow 330 on the retractable element 311 is a lens forming a part ofthe first lens group 320. The window 330 is not moved by a lens groupactuator. In an embodiment, the first lens group 320 is a lens barrel,wherein the lenses may be fixed in relation to each other or they may bemoved in order to enable various optical characteristics. An autofocusactuator 340 is configured to move the first lens group 320 or at leastone lens in the first lens group 320 in order to reach a sharp focus onthe image plane and on the image sensor 350. In an embodiment, theautofocus actuator is configured to alter the optical zoom factor. In anembodiment, the optical zoom factor is altered by an actuator configuredinside the lens barrel. The autofocus actuator 340 is an example of alens group actuator. The extended position allows movement for the lensgroup actuators 340, 341.

An optical image stabilizer 341 is configured to move the first lensgroup 320—in an embodiment, the optical image stabilizer 341 isconfigured to move the autofocus actuator 340 together with the firstlens group 320. The optical image stabilizer 341 is an example of a lensgroup actuator. In an embodiment, the optical image stabilizer 341 isattached to the first lens group or to the lens barrel; whereas theautofocus actuator 340 is configured to move the image stabilizer 341and the first lens group 320. In an embodiment, the autofocus actuator340 is electromechanically connected to the optical image stabilizer341, under the autofocus actuator 340 on the component stack.

According to an embodiment, the retractable element 311 suspends thestructure of the at least one lens group actuator 340, 341 and at leastportion of the first lens group 320. The retractable element 311 maycomprise a frame that enables attaching the first lens group 320 or theat least one lens group actuator 340, 341 to the retractable element311. In an embodiment, the retractable element 311 is configured tomove, for example, on a rail or similar structure that guides themovement.

A second actuator 310 is configured to move the first lens group 320along the optical axis 301 between the active and inactive positions.The second actuator 310 is configured to adjust the distance between atleast one lens group actuator 340, 341 and the image sensor group 350.The first lens group 320 and the at least one lens group actuator 340,341 have the active position and the inactive position in relation tothe image sensor group 350 along the optical axis 301. In the activeposition the first lens group 320 and the at least one lens groupactuator 340, 341 protrude from the device body 300 along the opticalaxis 301. In an embodiment, the actuator is a lifting mechanism that maycomprise mechanical elements such as a lever that the user of the deviceapplies in order to alter the distance between the first lens group 320and the image sensor group 350 between active and inactive positions. Inan embodiment, the lifting mechanism is a transmission system.

The image sensor group 350 resides on the optical axis, the image sensor350 being on an image plane. The image sensor 350 is arranged on theoptical axis to receive the image from the first lens group 320. A focalplane is a plane where object appears in focus. In an embodiment, thefirst lens group 320 is tilted in the direction that reduces the effectof detected shaking to achieve optical image stabilization. The tiltedfirst lens group 320 causes the focal plane to tilt as well, wherein thefocal plane and the image sensor 350 are not aligned. The image sensor350 comprises, for example, a plurality of light sensing elements thatmeasure the light captured by the light sensing elements to form animage of pixels. In an embodiment, the image sensor group 350 comprisesthe field flattening lens 351. The field flattening lens 351 correctsthe focal plane projection error caused by tilting the first lens group320. In an embodiment the image is stabilized by tilting and shiftingthe lens. In an embodiment the image is stabilized by shifting the lens.In an embodiment the image is stabilized by moving the image sensor orthe image sensor group 350. The image sensor group may be defined bycomprising an image sensor, an image sensor with one static lens or animage sensor with more than one static lenses.

The image sensor group 350 is mounted on the circuit board 370. Thecamera hardware 370 may comprise at least one of: a processor, acontroller, a memory, or a sensor such as a gyroscope. A wiring, such aflex cable 380 may connect the imaging apparatus to the electronicdevice.

FIG. 3 b shows the imaging apparatus in the inactive position. In theinactive position a portion of the one lens group actuator 341 is at thesame level with the image sensor group 350, perpendicular to the opticalaxis 301. According to an embodiment, the first lens group 320 and theat least one lens group actuator 340, 341 are inside the device body300. The lens is retracted, as the first lens group 320 is brought nearthe image sensor group 350. The lens group actuator lowered to the levelof image sensor group 350 may be the autofocus actuator 340 or theoptical image stabilizer 341, wherein the two lens group actuators maybe stacked. In an embodiment, the lower lens group actuator is anautofocus actuator 340 or an optical image stabilizer 341.

The previous embodiment showed two-group optics, where the componentsare in the inactive position at a distance shorter than typicalfunctional clearances. Examples of functional clearances are autofocusstroke, tolerance margins or the back focal length. The image sensorgroup remains static, whereas the first lens group is able to movevertically, along the optical axis. In an embodiment, the image sensorgroup and at least one lens group actuator are nested in the inactiveposition.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b illustrate an embodiment, where the image sensor group450 is movable in relation to the first lens group 420 and the devicebody. The device body comprises a transparent front surface 400 and anopaque rear surface 410. The first lens group 420 is attached inside thedevice body facing the transparent front surface 400. The first lensgroup may be attached to the device body by suspending from at least onelens group actuator 440, 441. The optical field of vision 403 of theimaging apparatus passes through the transparent surface 400. FIG. 4 ashows the active position, wherein the image sensor group 450 protrudesfrom the device body along the optical axis 401. A retractable element411 covers the imaging apparatus structure. The retractable element 411protrudes from the device body causing a distance between the first lensgroup 420 and the image sensor group 450. The image sensor group 450 isattached to the retractable element 411. A wiring, such a flex cable 480connects the image sensor group to the imaging apparatus.

In the inactive position the image sensor group 450 is inside the devicebody, as illustrated in FIG. 4 b . In this example the device body isflush without any protrusions from the imaging apparatus. In anembodiment, the design may allow different shapes to be used in thecontext of retractable element.

The lens group actuator may be a voice coil actuator, a piezo actuatoror a shape memory alloy actuator. In an embodiment, the actuator has acircular shape and the image sensor group fits inside the actuatorperimeter. The lens group actuator may surround the image sensor group.

In an embodiment, the image sensor group comprises a curved image sensor550, as illustrated in FIG. 5 . The curved sensor 550 functions with thetiltable lens barrel 520 as the curvature of the sensor 550 follows thefocal plane projection. In an embodiment, correcting the focal planeprojection error with the field flattener lens is not required. Thespace required by the inactive position may be further reduced. The lensgroup actuator 541 may be lowered to the same plane as the curved sensor550. The level is defined as being perpendicular to the optical axis501. In an embodiment, a functional portion of the lens group actuator541 is at the same level as the image sensor 550 or the image sensorgroup.

The retractable lens structure utilizes the available space around theimage sensor group. For a flat device the height of the imaging devicemust be minimized. In this context the improvement in the scale of 0.01mm difference of the imaging device's size may be considered animprovement. The reduced size of a single component may have an effectto other components in the electronic device, for example, in how othercomponents are positioned inside the device.

An imaging apparatus is disclosed, comprising: a first lens group on anoptical axis; at least one lens group actuator configured to move thefirst lens group; an image sensor group on the optical axis; and asecond actuator configured to adjust the distance between the at leastone lens group actuator and the image sensor group, the first lens groupand the at least one lens group actuator having an active position andan inactive position in relation to the image sensor group along theoptical axis. In the inactive position a portion of the one lens groupactuator is at the same level with the image sensor group, perpendicularto the optical axis. In an embodiment, the at least one lens groupactuator is an autofocus actuator or an optical image stabilizer. In anembodiment, the first lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator andthe second lens group actuator is an optical image stabilizer. In anembodiment, in the inactive position a portion of the autofocus actuatoris at the same level with the image sensor group. In an embodiment, inthe inactive position a portion of the autofocus actuator and a portionof the optical image stabilizer are at the same level with the imagesensor group. In an embodiment, the imaging apparatus comprises a devicebody, wherein the image sensor group is attached inside the device body;the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator aremovable along the optical axis in relation to the image sensor group andthe device body, wherein in the active position the first lens group andthe at least one lens group actuator protrude from the device body alongthe optical axis; and in the inactive position the first lens group andthe at least one lens group actuator are inside the device body. In anembodiment, the imaging apparatus comprises a device body having atransparent surface, the first lens group being attached inside thedevice body facing the transparent surface and an optical field ofvision passing through the transparent surface; and the image sensorgroup is movable in relation to the first lens and the device body,wherein: in the active position the image sensor group protrudes fromthe device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position theimage sensor group is inside the device body. In an embodiment, the atleast one lens group actuator is a voice coil actuator, a piezo actuatoror a shape memory alloy actuator. In an embodiment, the image sensorgroup comprises a field flattener lens. In an embodiment, image sensorgroup comprises a curved image sensor.

A device is disclosed, comprising: a device body having a retractableelement; a first lens group on an optical axis and at least one lensgroup actuator configured to move the first lens group; an image sensorgroup comprising an image sensor on the optical axis; the retractableelement having an active position and an inactive position. In theactive position the retractable element protrudes from the device bodycausing a distance between the first lens group and the image sensorgroup; in the inactive position a portion of the at least one lens groupactuator is at the same level, perpendicular to the optical axis, withthe image sensor group; and comprising a lifting mechanism configured tomove the retractable element between the active position and theinactive position. In an embodiment, the at least one lens groupactuator is an autofocus actuator or an optical image stabilizer. In anembodiment, the device comprises two lens group actuators, wherein thefirst lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator and the second lensgroup actuator is an optical image stabilizer. In an embodiment, thedevice body comprises a transparent surface, the first lens group isattached inside the device body facing the transparent surface and anoptical field of vision passing through the transparent surface; and theimage sensor group is attached to the retractable element, wherein theimage sensor group is movable in relation to the first lens group andthe device body, wherein: in the active position the image sensor groupprotrudes from the device body along the optical axis; and in theinactive position the image sensor group is inside the device body. Inan embodiment, the image sensor group is attached inside the devicebody; the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator areconnected to the retractable element and the first lens group and the atleast one lens group actuator are movable along the optical axis inrelation to the image sensor group and the device body.

A system is disclosed, comprising: a first lens group on an opticalaxis; an image sensor group on the optical axis; and at least one lensgroup actuator configured to move the first lens group; a secondactuator configured to adjust the distance between the at least one lensgroup actuator and the image sensor group along the optical axis, thefirst lens group and the at least one lens group actuator having anactive position and an inactive position in relation to the image sensorgroup along the optical axis, wherein: in the inactive position aportion of the one lens group actuator is at the same level with theimage sensor group, perpendicular to the optical axis. In an embodiment,the at least one lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator or anoptical image stabilizer. In an embodiment, the system comprises twolens group actuators, wherein the first lens group actuator is anautofocus actuator and the second lens group actuator is an opticalimage stabilizer, wherein in the inactive position a portion of theautofocus actuator and a portion of the optical image stabilizer are atthe same level with the image sensor group. In an embodiment, the systemcomprises a device body, wherein the image sensor group is attachedinside the device body; the first lens group and the at least one lensgroup actuator are movable along the optical axis in relation to theimage sensor group and the device body, wherein: in the active positionthe first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator protrudefrom the device body along the optical axis; and in the inactiveposition the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuatorare inside the device body. In an embodiment, the system comprises adevice body having a transparent surface, the first lens group beingattached inside the device body facing the transparent surface and anoptical field of vision passing through the transparent surface; and theimage sensor group being movable in relation to the first lens and thedevice body, wherein: in the active position the image sensor groupprotrudes from the device body along the optical axis; and in theinactive position the image sensor group is inside the device body.

An example of the apparatus or a system described hereinbefore is acomputing-based device comprising one or more processors which may bemicroprocessors, controllers or any other suitable type of processorsfor processing computer executable instructions to control the operationof the device in order to control one or more sensors, receive sensordata and use the sensor data. Platform software comprising an operatingsystem or any other suitable platform software may be provided at thecomputing-based device to enable application software to be executed onthe device.

The computer executable instructions may be provided using anycomputer-readable media that is accessible by computing based device.Computer-readable media may include, for example, computer storage mediasuch as memory and communications media. Computer storage media, such asmemory, includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removablemedia implemented in any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modulesor other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to,RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other non-transmission medium that can be usedto store information for access by a computing device. In contrast,communication media may embody computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal,such as a carrier wave, or other transport mechanism. As defined herein,computer storage media does not include communication media. Therefore,a computer storage medium should not be interpreted to be a propagatingsignal per se. Propagated signals may be present in a computer storagemedia, but propagated signals per se are not examples of computerstorage media. Although the computer storage media is shown within thecomputing-based device it will be appreciated that the storage may bedistributed or located remotely and accessed via a network or othercommunication link, for example by using communication interface.

The computing-based device may comprise an input/output controllerarranged to output display information to a display device which may beseparate from or integral to the computing-based device. The displayinformation may provide a graphical user interface, for example, todisplay hand gestures tracked by the device using the sensor input orfor other display purposes. The input/output controller is also arrangedto receive and process input from one or more devices, such as a userinput device (e.g. a mouse, keyboard, camera, microphone or othersensor). In some embodiments the user input device may detect voiceinput, user gestures or other user actions and may provide a naturaluser interface (NUI). This user input may be used to configure thedevice for a particular user such as by receiving information about bonelengths of the user. In an embodiment the display device may also act asthe user input device if it is a touch sensitive display device. Theinput/output controller may also output data to devices other than thedisplay device, e.g. a locally connected printing device.

The term ‘computer’ or ‘computing-based device’ is used herein to referto any device with processing capability such that it can executeinstructions. Those skilled in the art will realize that such processingcapabilities are incorporated into many different devices and thereforethe terms ‘computer’ and ‘computing-based device’ each include PCs,servers, mobile telephones (including smart phones), tablet computers,set-top boxes, media players, games consoles, personal digitalassistants and many other devices.

Any range or device value given herein may be extended or alteredwithout losing the effect sought.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subjectmatter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to thespecific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific featuresand acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing theclaims and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims.

It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described abovemay relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments or acombination thereof. The embodiments are not limited to those that solveany or all of the stated problems or those that have any or all of thestated benefits and advantages. It will further be understood thatreference to ‘an’ item refers to one or more of those items.

The term ‘comprising’ is used herein to mean including the method blocksor elements identified, but that such blocks or elements do not comprisean exclusive list and a method or apparatus may contain additionalblocks or elements.

It will be understood that the above description is given by way ofexample only and that various modifications may be made by those skilledin the art. The above specification, examples and data provide acomplete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments.Although various embodiments have been described above with a certaindegree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individualembodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations toor combinations of the disclosed embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of this specification.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An imaging apparatus, comprising: a devicebody; a first lens group on an optical axis; a group of actuatorsconfigured to move the first lens group, the group of actuatorscomprising a first actuator and a second actuator, the first lens groupbeing substantially surrounded by each of the first actuator and thesecond actuator, the first actuator is configured to move the secondactuator and the first lens group or the second actuator is configuredto move the first actuator and the first lens group; an image sensorgroup on the optical axis; and a third actuator configured to adjust thedistance between the group of actuators and the image sensor group,wherein the third actuator is static relative to the optical axis, thefirst lens group and the group of actuators having an active positionand an inactive position in relation to the image sensor group along theoptical axis, wherein in the inactive position the image sensor groupand the group of actuators are nested.
 2. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first actuator is an autofocusactuator and the second actuator is an optical image stabilizer.
 3. Theimaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in the inactive positiona portion of the autofocus actuator is at the same level as the imagesensor group.
 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein inthe inactive position a portion of the autofocus actuator and a portionof the optical image stabilizer are at the same level as the imagesensor group.
 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprisinga device body, wherein the image sensor group is attached inside thedevice body; the group actuators are movable along the optical axis inrelation to the image sensor group and the device body.
 6. An imagingapparatus according to claim 1, comprising a device body having atransparent surface, the first lens group being attached inside thedevice body facing the transparent surface and an optical field ofvision passing through the transparent surface; and the image sensorgroup is movable in relation to the first lens and the device body,wherein: in the active position the image sensor group protrudes fromthe device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position theimage sensor group is inside the device body.
 7. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the second actuator is between the firstactuator and the third actuator.
 8. The imaging apparatus according toclaim 7, in the active position, the first lens group and the firstactuator protrude from the device body along the optical axis and thesecond actuator remains inside the device body.
 9. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the image sensor group comprises a curvedimage sensor.
 10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe first actuator is circular in shape.
 11. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein in the inactive position the image sensorgroup and the group of actuators are nested inside the device body. 12.The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optical zoomfactor is altered by an actuator configured inside the first lens group.13. A device, comprising: a device body having a retractable element; afirst lens group on an optical axis and a group of actuators configuredto move the first lens group, the group of actuators comprising a firstactuator and a second actuator, the first lens group being surrounded byeach of the first actuator and the second actuator, the first actuatoris configured to move the second actuator and the first lens group orthe second actuator is configured to move the first actuator and thefirst lens group; an image sensor group comprising an image sensor onthe optical axis; the retractable element having an active position andan inactive position, wherein in the inactive position the image sensorgroup and the group of actuators are nested; and a lifting mechanismconfigured to alter the distance between the first lens group and theimage sensor group, wherein the lifting mechanism is static relative tothe optical axis, the lifting mechanism configured to move theretractable element between the active position and the inactiveposition.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein in the activeposition, the first lens group and the first actuator protrudes from thedevice body causing a distance between the first lens group and theimage sensor group.
 15. The device according to claim 13, wherein thedevice body comprises a transparent surface, the first lens group isattached inside the device body facing the transparent surface and anoptical field of vision passing through the transparent surface; and theimage sensor group is attached to the retractable element, wherein theimage sensor group is movable in relation to the first lens group andthe device body, wherein: in the active position the image sensor groupprotrudes from the device body along the optical axis; and in theinactive position the image sensor group is inside the device body. 16.The device according to claim 13, wherein the image sensor group isattached inside the device body; the first lens group and the group ofactuators are connected to the retractable element and the first lensgroup and the group of actuators are movable along the optical axis inrelation to the image sensor group and the device body.
 17. A systemcomprising: a device body; a first lens group on an optical axis; animage sensor group on the optical axis; and a group of actuatorsconfigured to move the first lens group, the group of actuatorscomprising a first actuator and a second actuator, the first lens groupbeing surrounded by the first actuator and the second actuator, thefirst actuator is configured to move the second actuator and the firstlens group or the second actuator is configured to move the firstactuator and the first lens group; a third actuator configured to adjustthe distance between the group of actuators and the image sensor groupalong the optical axis, wherein the third actuator is static relative tothe optical axis, and wherein the second actuator is between the firstactuator and the third actuator, the first lens group and the group ofactuators having an active position and an inactive position in relationto the image sensor group along the optical axis, wherein: in theinactive position the image sensor group and the group of actuators arewithin the device body; and in the active position, the first lens groupand the first actuator protrude from the device body along the opticalaxis and the second actuator remains inside the device body.
 18. Thesystem according to claim 17, wherein the actuator is an autofocusactuator and the second actuator is an optical image stabilizer, whereinin the inactive position a portion of the autofocus actuator and aportion of the optical image stabilizer are at the same level with theimage sensor group.
 19. The system according to claim 17, wherein: theimage sensor group is attached inside the device body; and the firstlens group and the group of actuators are movable along the optical axisin relation to the image sensor group and the device body.
 20. Thesystem according to claim 17, comprising a device body having atransparent surface, the first lens group being attached inside thedevice body facing the transparent surface and an optical field ofvision passing through the transparent surface; and the image sensorgroup is movable in relation to the first lens and the device body,wherein: in the active position the image sensor group protrudes fromthe device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position theimage sensor group is inside the device body.